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It might not be surprising to learn that the U.S. is the top destination for foreign direct investment (FDI).

According to new United Nations data cited by U.S. Trust's Joseph Quinlan, the U.S. accounted for $159 billion of inflows of the global total of $1.46 trillion of flows in 2013. This is down from $168 billion in 2012.

"What’s more, notwithstanding last year’s drop, America’s FDI inflows in 2013 were still greater than combined inflows to China and India ($155 billion)," noted Quinlan. "China ranked second in FDI inflows last year, taking the Silver medal, while the Bronze medal goes to Russia thanks to a large one-off investment by a major British oil company in Russia’s economy. India wasn’t even on the same playing field as the U.S. and China."

A few months ago, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich was expected to sign some agreements that could eventually integrate Ukraine with the European Union economically. Ultimately, Yanukovich refused to sign the agreements, a decision thousands of his countrymen immediately protested.

The demonstrations later evolved, as they often do. Protesters started calling for political change, and when Yanukovich resisted their calls, they demanded new elections.

Some protesters wanted Ukraine to have a European orientation rather than a Russian one. Others felt that the government was corrupt and should thus be replaced. These kinds of demonstrations occur in many countries. Sometimes they're successful; sometimes they're not. In most cases, the outcome matters only to the country's citizens or to the citizens of neighboring states.